Shuttle mechanism



Oct-22, 19404 J. P. PUTNAM SHUTTLE MECHANISM Filed July 26, 1938 /Z 144 f@ W Y. i '.'fjf In said drawing: li-3,55* Fig. 1 is a vfront elevation of a shuttle mech- Patented Oct. 22, 1940 UNITED) STATES SHUTTLE MECHANIY'SM l John P. Putnam, Boston, Mass., assignor to The Reece Button Hole Machine Company, Boston, Mass., a corporation of Maine Application July 26, 193s', serial No. 221,311

18 Claimsf This invention relates to the thread-handling devices of lock-stitch sewing machines, and more particularly to a novel shuttle mechanism thereof.

It is the primary aim and object of the present invention to provide a shuttle mechanism wherein the shuttle encountersonly negligible frictional resistance even when the same'is driven at a very high speed. v' 1 It is another object of the 'present invention to construct'the shuttle mechanism in such manner that the shuttle may be continuously driven at a uniform speed and at a most favorable 1 to 1 ratio with respectI to the needle reciprocal tion, i. e., one revolution of the shuttle for each needle reciprocation.

'It is another object of the present invention to construct the shuttle mechanism in such manner that a thread loop need not be twisted in order to pass around the rotating shuttle without interference from the shuttle drive.

The foregoing and other objects of the present invention, together with means whereby the latter may be carried into effect will best be undertrative embodiment thereof shown in the accompanying drawing. The particular mechanism described and shown is, however, being chosen for purposes of exempliication merely, as it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the invention, as defined by the claims hereunto appended, may be otherwise embodied without departure from the spirit and scope thereof.

`anism which embodies the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partly broken away, of the shuttle mechanism. i

Fig. 3 is a section taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section, taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. -1, showing the elements separated, however.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of certain co- -t5-operating elements of the shuttle mechanism tomary shuttle race. Briefly, this is accomplished by providing a cylindrical shuttle, having The present shuttle mechanism has for a primary feature` a novel shuttle drive, certain rotary 1 gear teeth in its periphery which are in permanent mesh with at least two pinions. 'Ihe teeth of the shuttle interlock with the teeth of the pinions in such manner, and the pinions are so angularly spaced, that the shuttle is held by said pinions against movement in any direction except rotation around its own axis, and is rotated about its axis upon rotation of said pinions.

Referring to the drawing, and more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 thereof, the reference numeral I 0 designates a support for the work W to be sewed. This support IU has the usual opening II for the needle I2, and is suitably mounted on any conventional lock-stitch sewing machine (notshown). Depending from said support I 0 is a bracket I3 in which stub shafts I4 and I4a are journalled. Suitably mounted on the ends of said stub shafts I4 and I 4a which project beyond one side of the bracket I3 are identical pinions I5 and I 5a, respectively, which are, in vpermanent mesh with the peripheral gear teeth I6 of a cylindrical shuttle I1. The shuttlev I 'I has a central recess I8 for the reception of the customary bobbin (not shown) which is journalled on a projecting shank I9 of the shuttle and retained thereon by any conventional bobbin retaining means (not shown). lMounted on the ends ofthe stub shafts -I4 and I4a which project beyond the oppositeside o1' the bracket I3 are identical pinions 20 and 20g, respectively, whichv are in permanent mesh with a common driving gear 2|, mounted on a shaft 22 which is journalled in any. suitable manner (not shown) in the` sewing machine and suitably driven in a certain timed relation with the reciprocations of the needle I2. More particularly the pinion 20a is suitably mounted for rotation together with its stubshaft I4a, while the pinion 20 is freely rotatable on'its stub shaft I4 and provided with a projecting lug 23 against which bears a set screw 24, threadedly received by a radially projecting 5 arm 25 of said stub shaft I4. 'Ihe shaft 22 is driven in such direction (seev arrow 26 in Fig. 2)

that the pinionlll transmits its rotary motion to its stub shaft I4 through intermediation of the lug 23, set screw-.24, and arm 25. Rotation of the .shaftK 22 in the specified direction results y in simultaneous counterclockwise rotation of the pinions I5 andl I5a and insimultaneous clockwise rotation of theshuttl'e I'I,`as viewed in Fig. v1. The pinions I5 and: I5aLfl are shown disposed almost diamet'ricallyoppsite each other, and it can be understoodl-thatremoval o f the shuttle I1 from engagement with the pinions I5 and I5a in any direction at right angles to its axisisv 79 is rotated clockwise as viewed in Fig. 1,'the pinion resisted by the mating teeth of the shuttle I1 and of said pinions. Inasmuch as the pinions I5 and I5a are identical with each other, and inasmuch as the pinions 2D .and 2li-a are also 'identical with each other but not necessarily that the pinions I5 and I5a support theshuttlle around.` The forces for supporting the shuttle |1, regardless of whether'the latter rotates or is at rest. More particularly, the shuttle teeth I6 are formed in two sets I 6a` and |61: (Figs. 4 and 5) which are embedded in the shuttle periphery 21 and spaced from the` adjacent circular edges thereof by peripheral fianges 28 and 29, respectively, of the shuttle; The sets IBa and IIib of shuttle teeth are furthermore separated from each other by an intermediate peripheral 'ange 30 of the shuttle. The pinions I5 and I5a are of substantially the same width as that of the shuttle periphery, and each pinion is provided with two sets of teeth |517. and |5c (Figs. 4 and 5) which project from the pinion periphery and are spaced apart the same distance as the sets I6a and |6b of shuttle teeth. Thus, each pinion is provided with peripheral portions 3| which extend between the edges of the shuttle periphery and the adjacent sets of teeth I5b and I5c, and with a peripheral portion 32 which extends between said sets of teeth. The peripheral flanges 28, 29 and 30 ofthe shuttle are adapted to ride on the peripheral portions 3| and 32 of the pinions I5 and I5a, while the sets of teeth IBa and I6b of shuttle teeth are adapted to mesh with the sets of teeth I5b and I5c, respectlvely,'of said pinions. The explained cooperation ofthe pinions I5 and I5a with the shuttle prevents the axial removal of the latter from engagement with said pinions, guides the shuttle for rotation about its own axis as affixed axis, and counteracts tendencies of certain forces acting on the shuttle periphery to cock the shuttle with respect to said pinions. These forces, which are directed axially of the shuttle and tend to cock the same are' component forces of the resulting pull on the thread of a loop by the rotating shuttle when said loop is passing there- I1 are transmitted through the. engaging peripheral portionsI of the shuttle I1 and of the 'pinions I5 and I5a, .while the mating teeth of the shuttle and of said pinions'retain the shuttlev in supporting engagement with the pinions.

' The peripheral flanges 28, 29 and 30 of the shuttle I1 are brought into engagement withthe peripheral portions 3| and 32 of the pinions I5a and I5, respectively, by manipulating the set screw 24. Thus, on advancing said screw 24 in the lug 25, either .the pinion 20 will belrotated clockwise as viewed in Fig.' 1, or the ystub shaft I4 and pinion I5 will be rotated counter-clockwise as viewed in Fig. l, or both the pinion 20 and the stub shaft I4 will be rotated clockwise and counter-clockwise, respectively, as viewed in Fig. 1, as the `casemay be. If4 the pinion 20 4I5a is also rotated clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 1,

3| and 32 of the pinions I5a and I5, respectively.

If the stub shaft I4 and the pinion I5 are rotated counter-clockwise as viewed in'Fig. 1, the same result is obtained except that it is then the pinion I5 which draws the shuttle to; the right and downwardly as viewed in Fig. 1 until its peripheral flanges 28, 29 and 30 contact the peripheral portions 3| and 32 of the pinions I 5a and I5, respectively. When both pinions 20 and I5 arerotated clockwise and counter-clockwise, respectively, as viewed-'in Fig. 1, each of these pinions performs in the above mentioned manner with the result that the shuttle is drawn to the right and downwardly as viewed in Fig. 1

until its peripheral flanges 28, 29 and 30 contact the peripheral portions 3| and 32 of the pinions I5a .and I5, respectively. Hence,` the peripheral flanges 28, 29 and 30 of the shuttle I1 are forced into firm engagement with the peripheral pinion portions 3| and 32 bymerely manipulating the set screw 24; f

The shuttle I1 is also provided with a groove 36 which extends across the periphery of the shuttle inv the skewed fashion shown in Figs. 3

vand 5. A side wall 36a of said groove 36 and a and I5a are in reality gear segments and the sets IBa and I6b of shuttle teeth are likewise gear segments. Permanent driving engagement between the pinions I5 and I5a and the shuttle is maintained because the gear segments IBa, Ib of .said shuttle as well as the gear segments I5b, I5c ofsaid pinions overlap in the fashion shown in Fig. 5, with the result that the aligned end teeth 48 of the pinion segments |5b and |50 mate with the aligned tooth .cavities 39 of the shuttle segments IIa and |61) and thus establish a driving link across the intervening gaps between the end teethof said gear segments. The pinions I5 and I5a may be disposed in an angularly spaced relation other than that illustrated in Fig. 1. However, several requirements, to be explained hereafter, x a definite angular range within which said pinions may be disposed. Thus, the pinions I5 and I5a must be so angularly spaced from each other that their teeth prevent the lateral removal of the shuttle from engagement with said pinions. It is also irnperative that the pinion I5 meshes with the shuttle teeth at a station where a thread loop l, just caught by the hook 38 in themanner illustrated in Figs. 1 andg2, has already been def' flected into the skewed groove 36 by the edge shuttle periphery 21. It is also imperative that the gaps between the end teeth of thegear segments I5b, I5c of the'pinions I5 and` I5a bridge the groove 36 every time the latter passes said I pinions. 'This is accomplished by properly initially correlating the pinions I5 and I5a with the shuttle teeth I6, and by making the ratio between the number of shuttle vteeth and the numberv of teeth of each of said pinions a whole number. If the number of teeth of each pinion did not divide evenly into the number of teeth of the shuttle, the intervening gap between the teeth of the pinions 2I5 and I5a would obviously not bridge the shuttle groove 36`every time the latter passes said pinions. By complying with the latter requirements, a non-twisted thread loop may be passed around the rotating shuttle without interference from the pinions I5 and I5a. Also, in order to obtain a most favorable 1 to 1 ratio between the shuttle speed and the needle reciprocations, i. e., one revolution of the shuttle to eachne'edle reciprocation, a thread loop l must vbe passed around the shuttle during a minimum part of one revolution thereof, so that the takeup device may perform its well-known operation and the needle I2 may go through the well known motions to cast a new loop l'into the path of the shuttle'hook while the shuttle rotates through the remaining part of the same revolution. To accomplish this, the pinion I5a has to be spaced a' considerable angular distance from the needle I2 (see Fig:` 1.), as can be readily understood. In order to take up any play or backlash between the mating teeth of the shuttle I1, the pinions I5, I5a and v20,l 20a and the driving gear 2 I, the lset screw 24 is manipulated against the lug 23 of the pinion 20,

Fig. 6 shows cooperating elements of a modied shuttle drive in which the gear segments I 6a and I 6b of the shuttle I'Ia merge into the side walls of the groove 36 and the teeth of the pinions (only one being indicated at I 5d) areinterrupted at 46 only in order to avoid a thread loop l, lying against a slanting bottom of the Y groove 36 which has its shallow part in alignperiphery and not at all interrupted by a skewed' ment with the gap 46 of each of said pinions.

'It is also within the scope of thepresent invention to provide shuttle-supporting pinions the teeth of `which may be continuous around the gap such as that of the pinion l5 shown in- Fig. 5. In that case, the entire bottom of the groove 36 in the shuttle periphery must be disposed in closer proximity to the shuttle axis than the pinionteeth which are in mating engagement with the shuttle teeth, in order to, avoid any interference of said pinion teeth with -a nontwisted thread loop passing around the rotating shuttle.

I claim:

1. A shuttI'rnecl'ianism,` comprising, in combination, a shuttle, and two elements cooperating to support the shuttle at all times and to rotate the same about its own axis through any angular distance and in eitherl direction, each element being a driving element.

2. A shuttle mechanism comprising, in combination, a shuttle, and two elements cooperating to" support the shuttle at all times and to rotate the same about itsown axis through any angular distance, each element being a driving element and socoordinated with the shuttleas to permit the thread of a non-twisted loop to pass unobstructedly, around said shuttle.

3. A shuttle mechanism comprising, in combination, a shuttle, and revolving driving elements yfor said shuttle, said elements also permanentlypermanent mesh with the shuttle teeth and adapted to support the shuttle and to rotate the same about its own axis, said pinions being interlocked with the shuttle teeth so as to resist removal of the shuttle from said pinions in any direction.

6. In a shuttle mechanism, the combination of a shuttle having a cylindrical periphery provided with gear teeth; and at least two pinions in permanent mesh with the shuttle teeth and adapted to support and rotate said shuttle, the shuttle and said pinions having intertting peripheral deformations which together with the meshing teeth of i the shuttle and pinions prevent any movement of the shuttlerelative to s'aid pinions other than rotation about its own axis as a'xed axis.'

7.*In a shuttle mechanism, the combination of a shuttle having a cylindrical periphery provided with gear teeth and a skewed groove traversing said toothed periphery, said groove having its bottom closer to the shuttle axis than the root circle of said gear teeth and being adapted to receiver the thread of a non-twisted loop; and at least two pinions in permanent mesh with the shuttle teeth and adapted to support and drive the shuttle.

8. In a shuttle mechanism, the combination of a shuttle having a cylindrical periphery provided,-

with gear teeth; and at least two pinions in permanent mesh with the shuttle teeth and adapted 'to support and rotate the shuttle, said shuttle tapered, said groove being adapted to receive the thread of` anon-,twisted loop; and a pinion in permanent mesh with the shuttle teeth, the

toothed periphery of said pinion being traversed by a skewedgroove which coincides with the shuttle groove once during each revolution of the shuttle and terminates at a point adjacent to Where the bottom f the shuttle groove commences to be closer to the shuttle axis than the root circle of the shuttle teeth.

10. In a shuttle mechanism, the combination of a cylindrical vshuttle having peripheral gear teeth separated by an intermediate peripheral deformatipn and flanked on both sidesby two other peripheral deformations; and at least two pinions in permanent mesh with the shuttle teeth and adapted to support and rotate said shuttle, said pinions having peripheral deformations interfitting with those of the shuttle to pre' vent in conjunction with the meshing teeth of the shuttle and pinions any movement of said shuttle relative to said pinions other than rotation about its own axis as a fixed axis.

11. In a shuttle mechanism, the combination of a rotary shuttle having-a cylindrical -periphery providedwith gear teeth, a groove in said periphery and a hook atene end of and merging into said groove; and a pinion in mesh with the shuttle teeth, said groove being so skewed' and said vshuttle teeth being so interrupted at said groove that the pinion will remain in permanent mesh with the shuttle teeth when passing said groove. v

12. In a shuttle mechanism,the combination of a rotary shuttle having a `cylindrical peripheryl provided with axially spaced sets of gear teeth', a skewed groove so traversing the gear teeth that either set isuninterrupted by said groove Within a peripheral region axially alined with the gap in the other set as caused by said groove, and a hook at one end of and merging into said groove; and a pinion in mesh with the shuttle-teeth;

13. In a shuttle mechanism, the combination of a rotary shuttle having a cylindrical, periphery provided with gear teeth, a groove -in said periphery and a hook at one end of and merging into saidgroove; and a pinion in mesh with the shuttle teeth and having a peripheral groove traversing its own teeth and coinciding with the shuttle groove When-said pinion passes 'the latter, said grooves being so skewed and said teeth being so interrupted at said grooves that the pinion will remain in permanent meshwith the shuttle teeth when passing the shuttle groove.

14. A shuttle mechanism comprising, in combination Aa shuttle having a cylindrical periphery "and at the same peripheral speed, -said device including means for taking. up any back-lash betweenV the shuttle teeth and the pinion teeth.

15. A shuttle mechanism comprising, in com- -v in mesh with the shuttle teeth, a non-toothed annular portion of the shuttle periphery riding on' non-toothed annular portions of the pinion peripheries which form the sole support for said shuttle, and said pinion lelements being -so angularly spaced that the meshing pinion and shuttl`e teeth lock the shuttle lagainst lifting from said annular pinion portions; and a device for driving said pinion elements simultaneously in the same direction and at the same peripheral speed; 'said device including means for taking up any back-lash between the shuttle teeth and the pinion teeth.

y 16. The combination in a shuttlemechanism as set forth inl claim 15, in which said device includes two gear elements, one of which is rotatable with one of the pinion elements, a driving connection between the other gear element and the other pinion element, said connection being adjustable to cause such relative rotation between said other elements that the shuttle is drawn into rmsupporting engagement with the pinion elements, an'd a common driving gear in mesh with said gear elements.

1'?. The combination in a shuttle mechanism as set -forth in claim 15, in which said device includes two gear elements, one of which is ro tatable with one of the pinion elements and the other of which is rotatable relative to the other pinion element coaxially thereof, eccenandcontacting the other lug, and a common driving gear in mesh with Vsaid gear elements. 18The combination 'in a shuttle mechanism as set forth in claim l5 in which said means is a single manuallyvoperable element.

JOHN P. PUTNAM. 

